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Statement on the outbreak of violence
Restoration of Human Rights (ROHR)
April 01, 2010

ROHR Zimbabwe condemns in the strongest terms the rekindled acts of violence and intimidation campaigns that are resurfacing in some parts of the country targeted at innocent vulnerable community members. It is regrettable that violence brings untold suffering mostly to women and children, against their wishes and aspirations.

We call upon the principals to the Global Political Agreement to be responsible and accountable for the actions of the different political parties they are representing in the negotiations. Cognizant of the fact that at the top level the principals are negotiating in peace and comfort, we do not condone a situation whereby their constituencies at the community level are up in arms against each other.

The widespread indescribable internal displacements of March - June 2008 election violence represent a sad chapter of our legacy, the largest man made catastrophe and fierce proportions of crimes against humanity. It is our collective responsibility as a nation that, the sad chapter should never be revisited even in the worst of times when we have differences as a people.

We reiterate that the ministry of home affairs has a pertinent role to play in guiding the nation from a legacy of violence and cancerous impunity into a post conflict non discriminatory society that is build upon values of liberty, fairness, and respect for humanity, justice, freedom, transparency, accountability and trust.

The biggest threat to the writing of a people's constitution and achieving sustainable national healing is the thriving self serving culture of impunity that blinds our country from visionary leadership. It is disgusting that whilst people are still smarting from the wounds from the past orgy of election violence, they are now being subjected to fresh wounds by the same system, infrastructure and mechanism that were responsible for promoting widespread organized and sponsored violence.

We submit as a matter of principle in the best interest of the people at large that the infrastructure of violence, intimidation and torture should be disbanded forthwith by all responsible parties as a gesture of goodwill towards rebuilding our beloved country. Violence begets more violence and a country cannot be built on a doctrine or culture of fear.

We challenge the guarantor of the talks, SADC and the chair President Zuma to guarantee first and foremost the peace and security of the people who should be the ultimate beneficiaries of the outcome of the prolonged talks in the midst of the progress that is being avidly reported against reports of fresh rounds of politically motivated violence.

ROHR Zimbabwe remains indebted to the meritorious cause of fighting for the rights and redress of the welfare of the neglected and trampled victims of politically violence.

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